I Ditched My Pricey Face Wash for This $13 Drugstore Buy

Discovering an effective, affordable face cleanser in the aisles of your neighborhood drugstore is like hitting the jackpot. In the past, I’ve found that inexpensive face wash tends to leave my skin feeling overly dry and tight, or they just don’t do the work to get my skin clean. Sidestepping drugstore solutions in favor of pricier, yet more effective formulas has been the basis of my skincare routine — until now.

From the first time I lathered up with the creamy Garnier SkinActive The Gentle Sulfate-Free Cleanser ($13), I was obsessed AF (as was my dry skin). After rinsing, my face was not only completely makeup-free, but I was also left with smooth, soft-to-the-touch skin that felt like it had just been moisturized. My already-parched complexion is drier than ever this time of year, making this lotion-like, soap-free formula a welcome addition to my skincare routine and budget. It delivers in terms of potency (what can’t it remove?), won’t break the budget, and is gentle enough to use multiple times a day. Read on for more details about this holy grail drugstore cleanser.

Even Halloween makeup doesn’t stand a chance.Hard-to-remove lash glue, budge-proof lip stains, and 15-hour foundations stand no chance to just one pump of powerful cleanser. What’s even more impressive is that it easily removes extra intense makeup, like my crazy Halloween makeup from this La Croix Halloween costume shoot (which even included face paint).

Sensitive skin and eyes won’t feel the burn. It’s sulfate-, alcohol-, fragrance-, paraben-, and oil-free, but still manages to get the job done on the most sensitive of complexions without any stinging or burning sensations.

It lasts a long time. You’ll get a ton of use out of this 13.5 ounce bottle. Since it just takes one pump to get squeaky clean, this bottle gives you a lot of bang for your buck.